# Feel-Good Light Meals Carmine’s is Serving The Original Girl Dinner for a Limited Time By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-02-21 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/original-girl-dinner References: [forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissakravitz/2026/02/19/girl-dinner-continues-at-these-new-york-city-restaurants/) & [carminesnyc](https://carminesnyc.com/news/original-girl-dinner)  It has been a few years since "girl dinner" took off on [TikTok](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/girl-dinner), inspiring millions to assemble joyful, feel-good bites—ideally with a bubbly beverage or a cocktail—and throughout February and March, [Carmine’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carmine) is offering "The OGD," or The Original Girl Dinner. Available for $28.95 per person, this meal includes a classic, shareable Caesar salad, plus crunchy fried Zucchini with aioli, as well as either a dirty or an espresso martini to fit one's mood. For those who need something a little more substantial, an additional "glow up" is an option, which adds [pasta with vodka sauce](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/create-your-own-pasta) to the experience for an additional charge. This once-viral way of eating still resonates because it captures the simple, guilt-free pleasure of treating yourself. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.0/10 - Popularity: 79% | Activity: 66% | Freshness: 66% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Nostalgic Viral Food Revivals:** Limited-time menu revivals tied to past viral moments generate renewed customer interest and measurable spikes in visits. - **Shareable Feel-good Meals:** Communal, low-guilt plates that emphasize comfort and joy create high-margin opportunities through group purchasing behavior. - **Boozy Pairing Micro-menus:** Compact meal-and-cocktail pairings capitalize on consumers' desire for curated, mood-driven dining experiences that justify premium pricing. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Casual Dining Restaurants:** Brick-and-mortar eateries can leverage short-run, themed offerings to capture social-media attention and boost off-peak traffic. - **Food Delivery Platforms:** Delivery services are positioned to monetize modular add-ons and curated combos that preserve shareability and beverage compatibility in transit. - **Packaged Meal Brands:** Ready-to-heat or ready-to-assemble kits that emulate viral 'girl dinner' aesthetics offer shelf-stable avenues for impulse and subscription sales. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Snackable Girly Pickles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-girl-pickles.md) - [Immersive Book Club Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/camp-unwritten.md) - [Reimagined Nostalgic Treats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simplified-ingredients.md) - [Social Good Butter Merchandise](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kerrygold-butter-club.md) - [Heart-Shaped Dutch Ovens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heartshaped-dutch-oven.md) - [Small-Bite Martini Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oblix-happy-hour.md) - [Effortless Charcuterie Plates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/girl-dinner.md) - [Small Side Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/viral-girl-dinner.md) - [Pickle-Flavored Protein Popcorns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dill-pickle-protein-popcorn.md)